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LIBR.\RV OF CONGRESS 



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SPEECH 



GEN. IIIRA.M WALBRIDGE, 



PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 

FEDERAL CONSTITUTION FOREVER PROHIBITING SLAVERY 

IN THE UNITED STATES, 



KEI.lVtRKI) r.KKoUE 



(The tLomiiuttcr on /rtcr;i( ilrhtious, 



ASSEMBLY CHAMBER OF NEW YORK, AT ALBANY, 
JAN. 27, 18G5. 



NEW YORK: 

WM. oLAND BOURNE, No. 13 CENTRE STREET. 

1865. 









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State of New York, 

AssEMDLY Chamber, Jan. 10, 1865. 
Dear Pir : 

The use of tlie Assembly Chamber, was this morning granted to the Com- 
mittee on Federal Relations, for the purpose of hearing an argument from you, 
in favor of tlie proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
prohibiting Slavery forever in the United States. 

It gives me great pleasure to make this announcement to you, and to re- 
quest, that you will.fli 3'our earliest convenience, favor the Committee, and 
through it, the Legislature of the State, with your views, upon this most im- 
portant question : one that should engage tlie careful and earnest consideration 
of every Citizen. 

I am, very dear Sir, 

Very re3j»ectfully. 

Your obedient and humble servant, 

SAMUEL C. REED, 
Chairiiian Cunimittec Federal Relations. 
Gknkrai. IIir\m Walhiudge, 
yew York. 



New Y..RK, Jan. 12tii, 1865. 
II..>. Samikl ('. Heed, 

('hnirmnn CoinmiUee Federal Ilclatiunx, AUianij. 
Dear Sir : 

I ail) profoundly grateful to the Committee of Federal Relations, in the As- 
actnbly, for the unexpected distinction they have awarded ine, (as I have just 
learn<'«l by your fuv<»r of Uie 10th inst..) in exj)r«ssing a wish to hear me on the 
proposed amfiidmeiit of the Federal Constitution, for ever interdicting Slavery 
in the " United States." 

1 Bincerely believe there can be no jierinaneiit tranquility in this country 
while the Institution of Slavery exists ; and that it is wise and prudent to secure 
its eradication from «»ur political sy.stein, by i)eaceful and constitutional means. 
This will be accomj>lished by the success of the proposed amendment. 

At as early a day as practicable, (consistent with my existing engagements,) 
I will address you again, antl designate the time when I shall be at liberty to 
avail myself of the very great compliment your Committee has extended to me. 

For the kind and generous manner in which you have communicated the 
action of your liody, I beg you to accept my sincere and cordial thanks. 

Yours sincerely, 

IlillAil WALBRIDGE. 



General Walbridge having accepted the foregoing invita- 
tion : 

The Committee on Federal Relations, convened in the Assem- 
bly Chamber, at Albany, Friday evening, Jan. ^57, 1865, at half- 
past seven o'clock. 

Hon. Samuel C. Reed, the Chairman, stated : 
The Committee had met, pursuant to the acceptance of tlie invi- 
tation of General Hiram Walbridge, of the City of New T'ork, to 
address them, this evening, on the proposed amendment to the 
Federal Constitution, forever abolishing Slavery in the United 
States, and at his request. His Excellency, Governor Fenton, was 
invited to preside. 

Governor Fenton", after thanking the Committee for their 
courtesy, stated : He regarded the pending measure, now 
before Congress, for the amendment of the Federal Consti- 
tution, forever abolishing Slavery, one of the most impor- 
tant that had ever come before that body, and he sincerely 
trusted, it would early secure favorable action. No other ques- 
tion of greater importance had ever been submitted to the con- 
sideration of the American people, and the decision of none was 
fraught with greater consequences, to their future welfare and 
happiness. The passage of this amendment by Congress, and its 
ratification by the States, in a constitutional manner, will restore 
the Government to the first principles on which it was intended 
to be established. 

It is, therefore, ]Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, with very great 
pleasure, I shall introduce to you, one of the most loyal of our 
fellow-citizens, an esteemed friend, who served with me several 
years since in Congress, one who is so thoroughly familiar with this 
great subject ; who early ap])reciated its importance to the coun- 
try, and is so perfectly competent to treat it with rare eloquence, 
and convhicing argument. 

I am hajjpy, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, to present to you. 
General Hiram Walbridge, of the City of New York, who will 
now address you. y. yj 










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